Holger Rune has faced a challenging few months since his impressive quarterfinal appearance at Wimbledon. A series of early exits from major tournaments, including the US Open, left the 20-year-old with much to contemplate. As he grappled with the turmoil of death threats issued to him on social media, Rune made a significant move by reconfiguring his coaching staff in an endeavor to rekindle his form.
Amidst the crisis, Rune made a bold choice, enlisting the expertise of a former grand slam champion to guide him through his journey. He dedicated substantial time to acclimating to his mentor’s unique methodologies, all with the singular goal of concluding the season on a high note.
Rune ditches caps and necklaces under Boris Becker’s coaching
Holger Rune hired 6-time grand slam champion Boris Becker as his coach in October, and the recently-released-from-prison German quickly brought his trademark techniques to the fore as he attempted to elevate the Dane’s career to new heights.
Rune’s mother recently disclosed that Becker played a pivotal role in her son’s newfound appearance at the Swiss Indoor Basel Championships, where Holger is vying for a title. Traditionally, Rune has concealed his blonde locks beneath a backward-facing cap and been observed caressing his necklace during matches.
However, none of these peculiarities made an appearance in Basel when Holger Rune graced the court against Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round. Both his cap and necklace were conspicuously absent as the young Dane allowed the sun to grace his hair. While Holger casually attributed this alteration to the sweltering indoor conditions, his agent and mother, Aneke, were convinced that Boris Becker had a hand in this sartorial shift.
“Holger has tinkered with it every now and then, but Boris himself felt that way when he was playing, that the less things that interfered, the better,” she told BT.
Boris Becker is an accomplished coach, having coached Novak Djokovic from 2013 to 2016. In that period, the German heavily influenced Novak’s improved serve, net game and fitness levels. Holger Rune seems to also have imbibed Boris’ influence as seen by his recent return to form in the Basel Open.
Holger Rune reaches Basel QFs
Holger Rune harnessed the confidence gained from a hard-fought victory over Kecmanovic to deliver a dominant performance against Sebastian Baez in the second round. In just an hour and 29 minutes, Rune emerged victorious with a scoreline of 7-6, 6-1, despite sweltering conditions.
Rune’s influence on the outcome of the match was evident in his remarkable second-serve points won rate, an impressive 78%, surpassing Baez’s first-serve points won at 68%. With the watchful eye of tennis legend Boris Becker from the coaching box, Rune showcased a stellar display. He not only fended off the sole break point against him but also capitalized on numerous opportunities to break Baez, sealing his path to victory.
The win gave Holger Rune a boost ahead of the year-ending Nitto ATP Finals. With fellow top-ten players Taylor Fritz and Casper Ruud losing early in the Basel Open, Rune has a chance to increase the gap on them in the ATP rankings and confirm a place in the event in Turin.
“It was difficult in the first set. I think he was serving well. I was struggling a little bit to find the rhythm on the return,” Rune said in his on-court interview. “But I stayed there, I kept my focus on my own serve and managed to raise my level in the tie-break. And from there, I built some better tennis.”
Rune is set to face Tomas Etcheverry in the quarterfinals on Friday.
What are your opinions on the change Boris Becker has brought about in Rune’s game? Will the Dane win his sixth ATP title in Basel? Let us know in the comments section below.
